Vending machine



Aug. 31, 1965 H. M. GIEPEN VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1963 xfd United States Patent 3,283,589 VENDING MACHINE Hubert M. Giepen, Addison, llih, assignor to General Vending Corporation, Kenosha, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Nov. 29, 1963, dear. No. 326,784 ll (Ilaim. (Ci. 221-75) The present invention relates to vending machines and more particularly to a machine for dispensing items such as magazines or the like.

Vending machines have found increasing use in the last few years. There are, however, certain items which so far have not lent themselves to convenient dispensing by machines; magazines and like items are exemplary. It is especially advantageous to automatically vend these items because shelves or counters otherwise required use substantial space. Furthermore, by exposing and permitting handlin. of the items, damage to the latter re sults in loss of profits. Also, the storing and displaying area is a point of congestion in store operations. In addition, it is necessary to provide a clerk to both sell the items as well as maintain a watch to prevent pilfering.

However, magazines and flimsy planer packages as used for womens hose and the like have proven difiicult for a Vending machine to handle. They are difiicult to manipulate physically, they may not be of uniform size and thickness and it is particularly important that the items be attractively displayed and conveniently obtained by the customer in response to presentation of the required cost.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine for storing, displaying and automatically dispensing items having a relatively rigid side such as magazines, flimsy planer packages and the like. A practical embodiment of the present invention may take the form of a cabinet having a helix operated by a customer actuated mechanism, the helix carrying a plurality of magazines on edge and ejecting them in response to customer operation of the mechanism.

A related object of the present invention in accordance with the above is to provide a storing and dispensing mechanism for handling items having threadably engageable ridges using only a single supporting helix which can be easily installed in conventional cabinets permitting dispensing of a predetermined number of different items of selected sizes.

An overall object of the present invention in accordance with the above is to provide a vending mechanism for handling items having a ridge portion which is characterized by its reliability in operation and economy of cost, yet which effects an attractive display of the items on sale in a security enclosure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a storing and dispensing unit embodying the features of the present invention;

FiG. 2 is a side elevation showing the assembly for transporting and ejecting the items stored inside the unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the drive mechanism for the transporting and ejecting assembly of FIG. 2 showing a step in the operation of the mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a partial section showing another portion of the drive mechanism for the assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the item transporting and ejecting assembly of FIG. 2; and

HG. 6 is an end view of the structure shown in FIG. 5.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a vending machine in a cabinet 10 embodying the features of the present invention. The cabinet provides a frame for supporting an actuator or coin receiving mechanism 11 and a window 12 for displaying a plurality of magazines stored within the enclosure. The magazines can be withdrawn after being dispensed through an opening 14, in the present instance at the bottom of the enclosure 10.

In accordance with the present invention articles having a relatively rigid side or engageable ridge, for example the longitudinal back edge or ridge 16 of a mag azine 18, are carried on a transporting and ejecting as sembly is? and dispensed in response to operation of the actuator 11.. In the present instance the transporting mechanism 19 is supported on a framework within the enclosure 1i) and takes the form of a longitudinally extending shaft 20 suitably fitted with a helix 21 adapted to carry a plurality of magazines 18 set on edge and resting against a hinged back-up follower or frame 22. The follower 22 includes two articulated sections 24, 25, respectively. The shaft 20 and helix 21 extend parallel to a pair of vertical sidewalls, one Wall 23 being hereshown in FIG. 2, so that when the articles are stacked on the helix 21 the walls provide side support and prevent the articles from rotating about the helix and falling off.

The transporting mechanism is borne by a framework comprised of a pair of arms 26, 28 in the present instance formed of suitable sheet metal material fastened to the respective sidewalls of the cabinet lit). These arms extend toward the center from opposite sides of the cabinet and provide a mounting for a support, in the present instance a U-shaped member 29, in which transport shaft 29 is journaled. The U-shaped member 29 is suitably fastened to the arms 26, 28 for example by spot welding. In the present instance the transport shaft 2% is supported in a cantilever manner, having a reduced diameter end portion as journaled in both legs 2%, 29b of the support member 29. The shaft 20 extends upwardly from the member 29 to facilitate storage of the items 18 thereon. it is clear that. other kinds of support can be provided for the shaft 2h. The support must be such as to permit the helix 21 to rotate while supporting ems thereon and thereby eject one by one, articles from the helix end. Snap ring 26a rotatably holds shaft 36 in support member 29.

For rotating the shaft 29, a drive mechanism 30 is provided. A portion of the drive mechanism 30 is carried in the supporting member 29. This portion includes a drive shaft 31 journaled in a suitable bearing 31a carried in a sidewall 32 of the supporting member. A drive gear 34 is carried on this end of the shaft and engages a driven bevel gear 35. The gear 35 is suitably fastened a) for example by a screw (not shown) to the reduced diameter shaft 36 extending from the lower end of transport shaft 20.

The other portion of the drive mechanism 3% is disposed at the opposite end of the drive shaft 31 and is supported by the inside wall 23 of the cabinet 1%. The drive mechanism includes a bracket 38 fastened to the actuator or coin receiving mechanism 11 and adapted to move longitudinally with a movable member 3) in the coin receiving mechanism. In the present instance the bracket 38 is of generally rectangular shape having a sidewall 40 and a peripheral wall 49a integral with and extending perpendicularly from the latter.

For rotating the drive shaft 31 in response to movement of the bracket 38, a mutilated gear 41 is received therein and suitably fastened, for example by a screw, key or the like (not shown) to the drive shaft 31.

In the present instance, as a part of the structure for transposing transverse movement of bracket 38 into rotational movement of shaft 31, one end of the latter is rotatably and slidably journaled in an opening 42 in the bracket sidewall 39. Detailing the bracket structure, integral with wall 40 an upper gear rack 44 is provided for engaging the mutilated gear 41 upon forward movement of the bracket 38 (see FIG. 2). Further rotational movement is imparted to the gear 41 by a camming surface 45 provided at the rear end of the bracket 38. This turns the gear 41 another quarter turn so that upon return linear movement of the bracket 33, a lower gear rack 46 integral with the wall 40 engages the gear (see FIG. 3). At the completion of movement of the bracket 38 in the return or reverse direction, a camming surface 43 at the forward end of the bracket 38 engages the mutilated gear to give it a final quarter turn. The gear 41 is thereby positioned to engage gear rack 44 in the next cycle of operation (FIG. 2). It is clear from the foregoing that the linear forward and reverse movement of the bracket 38 is transposed into a single continuous revolution of drive shaft 31. The gears 34 and 35 transmit this rotation to transport shaft so that a single revolution of the drive shaft effects one revolution of he helix 21.

Though in the present instance, the bracket 38 is shown as being of generally rectangular shape with camming surfaces at the opposite ends, it is within the teachings of the present invention to use other linking structures for effecting rotation of the drive shaft 31 in response to operation of an actuator or coin receiving mechanism 11. Indeed, other drive trains may be used to effect rotation of the helix 21 to transport and eject the items in response to operation of an actuator. The structure hereshown is exemplary.

Explaining the operation of the transport shaft 20 and the follower 22 in carrying and dispensing items such as the magazines 18, one section 24 of the follower has opposite ends 24a, 24b hinged to the respective mounting arms 26, 28 (see FIG. 1). The backing section is hingedly connected with section 24 and rides on the helix 2].. The section 25 is biased on the helix by a spring 49. The lower end of the follower section 25 rides on the helix 21 which drives outwardly, to the left in FIG. 2, upon each revolution of the shaft 31. The articulated connection between the section 24, 25 allows the backing section 25 to follow along with the helix 21 on the shaft 20 while remaining substantially upright so as to support the magazines 18 which lean against the section 25. The helix thread is dimensioned so that one magazine 18 is set into each upper groove or thread formed by the helix 21 between the outer end of the shaft 29 and the section 25. The follower can, of course, be simply lifted free of the shaft 2%) against the bias of the spring 49 and repositioned so as to leave the desired number of grooves for the corresponding number of magazines to be loaded onto the shaft 20.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the books are carried on their edges 16 to an ejection end 50 of shaft 20. In the present instance, the books are held back at the end by an integral oversized truncated disc 51 of a larger diameter than the helix 21. Each revolution of the shaft ejects the magazine which is the furthest forward and adjacent the disc 51. As the shaft continues to rotate reaching the revolution point, the magazine ridge 16 rides onto an end portion 53 of the shaft at which the disc 51 is truncated. The magazine is then ready for ejection. In the exemplary embodiment, during the last quarter revolution of shaft 21? the magazine is given a kick by a blunt edge 54 of disc 51. It is within the teachings of the present invention to operate the present ejecting mechanism without the retainer and kicker disc on the shaft end, however, preferable operation is achieved utilizing the structure described.

Dispensing of the articles, in the present instance the magazines 18, is completed by directing its fall to the bottom of the cabinet 10 where it can be pulled through opening 14. A chute is provided for directing the fall of the magazines so that they do not jam inside the cabinet. In the present instance, the chute is defined by a pair of angle pieces 58, 59 mounted inside the opposite sides of the cabinet 10 and in front of a lower transport and ejecting assembly to prevent interference in the op eration of the respective upper and lower assemblies.

As shown in FIG. 1 the cabinet 19 is constructed to dispense two different items upon operation of two different coin mechanisms. It is possible to either increase or decrease the number of different items dispensed by a single cabinet simply by selecting the size of cabinet and changing the number of coin mechanisms 11 and transporting assemblies 19.

It is clear from the foregoing that the present inventive vending machine is an economically manufacturable unit for dispensing items which have an engageable ridge or edge so that they can be moved along by a helix or thread of the like type. Accordingly, it is possible to vend comic books, magazines and like items from a compact installation. The magazines and other items are attractively displayed yet protected against soiling and pilfering. The present inventive device is adaptable to different types of dispensing operations. It is possible to provide a double, triple or other number of threads on the shaft 20 so that upon a single revolution of the shaft more than one item is ejected. To the contrary, it is possible to adjust the drive mechanism 34) so that it requires more than one cycle of operation of the bracket 38 in response to movement of the coin mechanism 11 to effect a single rotation of the shaft 29. Accordingly, it is clear that the present device is versatile in its adaptability for use in different circumstances.

Though a particular structure has been described for effecting rotation of the transporting and ejecting assembly 19, other drive mechanisms than here shown adaptable with other coin receiving mechanisms can be utilized. Also items such as sandwiches or even containers with an engageable ridge can be handled by the assembly 19, it merely being necessary to adjust the position of the sidewalls to provide transverse support for the items as they are carried on the helix 21.

I claim as my invention:

A mechanism for dispensing flexible articles having relatively rigid sides comprising, in combination, an enclosure defining a pair of vertical side walls for loosely receiving said articles with their rigid sides extending between the side walls, a helix having one end journaled in said enclosure so that the free end of the helix is higher than the journaled end and the helix is between said walls, said helix having a thread dimensioned to receive said rigid sides and thus support said articles on edge between said side walls, means in said enclosure defining an article receiving chute underlying the upper free end of said helix, means for intermittently rotating said helix so as to progressively drop said articles from the free end of the helix into said chute, a follower plate having its lower edge n'ding in said thread and being disposed substantially at right angles to said helix so as to underlie and support said flexible articles, means biasing said plate against said helix, and means defining a movable pivotal support for the top of said plate to hold the plate in position with respect to said helix While allowing the plate to be advanced with said articles.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/15 Boddy 221-715 10/62 Mannhardt 22175 

